The latest cache from UK-based reissue vets Avid Records gives some of the best crooning you’ll ever come across.
Still alive and with us, Tony Bennett has created an impressive catalogue over the years that stands as a standard bearer. His first five albums, however, are truly state of the art, and by far his most jazziest. His 1955 debut, produced by Mitch Miller, has him with swingers including drummer Ed Shaughnessy and tenor saxist Al Cohn, and Bennett hits the ground running with “My Baby Just Cares For Me” and “I Fall In Love Too Easily”. His sophomore from ’57 is possibly his best and most creative, as Bennett is backed by drummers like Art Blakey, Jo Jones, Chico Hamilton and spartan guitar and horns as he digs deep on sizzling takes of “Lullaby of Broadway” and “Crazy Rhythm”. Two years later Bennett gives tribute to New York City with arrangements by Ralph Burns perfectly serving Bennett on “Love Is Here To Stay” and “All By Myself”. The teaming of Bennett with Count Basie was a dream made in heaven, with two 1959 releases teaming the two, one in concert and one in studio. The concert was actually a “live” recording in studio with piped in applause, but it still works well on “Just In Time” and “Taking a Chance on Love” . The studio has Ralph Sharon on most of the piano tracks, but Basie is there for “Jeepers Creepers” and “Life Is A Song” and everyone sounds divine on “Anything Goes”. Essential for the ears.
The two disc set of “Rock ‘N’ Roll Heroes” covers some real roots and obscurities. Drummer Johnny Otis was an R&B star who crossed over to ride the rock wave, covering hits with singers Mel Williams and Arthur Lee Maye on tunes like “Sincerely”, “Sh-Boom”, the calypso’d “Honey Love” and doo wop classics “KNockin’ At My Front Door” and “Earth Angel” and giving his own big hit, the Bo Diddley riffed “Willie and the Hand Jive”. The American vocal group Freddie Bell and the Bellboys were one of the early rock bands, and their popular versions of “Hound Dog”, “The Hucklebuck” and “Rompin and Stompin’”. The Jodimars was created by disgruntled members of Billy Haley’s Comets and had a pretty good run with swinging rockers like “Well Now Dig this” and “Dance the Bop”. Everyone has heard of Richie Valens, and his debut as a teenager still holds up well, with pieces like “Donna” and “La Bamba” essential soundtracks for the 1950s and 60s, and he essentially created “garage rock” with his “C’mon, Let’s Go”. Most people have never heard of Larry Williams, but his R&B hits were so influential that The Beatles covered his songs like “Dizzy Miss Lizzy” and “Slow Down” while “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” and “Boney Moronie” are sizzling staples, and sometimes considered among the first “real” rock and roll songs. Also included as a bonus is what is generally considered the song that started rock, namely Jackie Brenston’s rough and ready “Rocket ’88′”. Not a bad history lesson here! .